In order to acquire the tag of India's sex symbol, Mallika Sherawat has virtually dropped her clothes. Earlier known as Reema Lamba, she started out as a small-time model and actress from Delhi, before she re-christened herself Mallika Sherawat.

A small-town girl (from Rohtak in Haryana), Mallika always had stars in her eyes and was determined to pursue the glamour profession and give it all it took to make it. Even though her conservative father was dead against her decision, Mallika defied his wishes and moved to Mumbai to carve a niche for herself in the big bad world of showbiz. Very few would know that she not only defied her father's wishes, but also walked out of her marriage with Jet Airways pilot Captain Karan Singh Gill (2000-2001 divorced) in Delhi to pursue her dream. Mallika, then called Reema, had married Karan soon after she completed her graduation from Miranda House, Delhi University and was working as a part time airhostess.